The next day, Xiao Yongze and Song Jiaxi arrived at the gates of Hai City University early, with Song Jiaxi gazing intently at the main entrance through the car window.
Xiao Yongze sighed helplessly: "Dear, why don't we find a breakfast place first? It's still over two hours until 9 o'clock, Ye Jinmeng won't be out this early."
Song Jiaxi ignored him, still fixated on the school entrance.
Ye Jinmeng had spent the entire night in a half-awake state, unsure if she was asleep or not, feeling utterly exhausted.
Checking the time on her phone, it was just past 6 AM. Unable to sleep, she decided to get up and head out.
Xiao Yongze, sitting in the car, thought about grabbing some breakfast for his wife first.
Just as he was about to get out of the car, Song Jiaxi unexpectedly beat him to it, exiting before he could.
Xiao Yongze instinctively glanced over and saw Ye Jinmeng strolling slowly through the main gate.
Ye Jinmeng seemed slightly startled upon seeing Song Jiaxi hurrying toward her, not expecting them to arrive so early. She was suddenly glad she had come out earlier too.
"Ye Jinmeng, why are you out so early? Didn't sleep well last night?" Song Jiaxi immediately took Ye Jinmeng's hand, looking at the faint dark circles under the young girl's eyes with concern.
"Auntie Song, why did you and Uncle come to the school so early?"
"Your uncle and I couldn't sleep, so we came out early," Song Jiaxi explained.
"Ye Jinmeng, have you had breakfast? How about we go eat together?"
Ye Jinmeng nodded: "Okay."
The three went to a breakfast place near the university. Song Jiaxi enthusiastically asked Ye Jinmeng what she wanted to eat.
With little appetite, Ye Jinmeng casually mentioned steamed buns and soy milk.
Their breakfast soon arrived, but Ye Jinmeng could only manage two steamed buns before feeling full.
Seeing Ye Jinmeng's lack of enthusiasm, the couple felt a slight tightness in their chests, thinking she might not want to do the paternity test with them.
Song Jiaxi probed gently: "Ye Jinmeng, you don't seem in a good mood. Is something bothering you? You can tell Auntie."
Ye Jinmeng pursed her lips, seeming hesitant to speak.
Xiao Yongze spoke up: "Ye Jinmeng, if you have anything to say, just tell us. If you don't want to do the paternity test, Uncle won't force you."
Ye Jinmeng quickly shook her head. "No, no Uncle, it's not that I don't want to do it."
"Then what is it?"
Ye Jinmeng rubbed her nose, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Uncle, Auntie, if, if the paternity test results show that I'm not your child, does that mean I can't come over to mooch food anymore?"
Indeed, ever since hearing Xu Wanwan's speculation the previous night, Ye Jinmeng had been tormented by this question.
What if she wasn't Xiao Yongze and Song Jiaxi's child? What if they suddenly disliked her and became distant, not allowing her to come over for meals anymore? What would she do then?
Auntie Song's cooking was so delicious; it would be such a pity if she could no longer eat it in the future.
The more Ye Jinmeng thought about it, the more miserable she felt.
The two, who had been anxious moments before, were taken aback upon hearing this, then couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Song Jiaxi reached out and ruffled Ye Jinmeng's fluffy hair, laughing: "You silly girl, even if you're not our child, I'll still treat you as my goddaughter. Even if you come to mooch food every day, I'll happily cook you delicious meals, three times a day without repeating any dishes."
Xiao Yongze couldn't help but shake his head as well. "That's right, don't overthink it. Don't tell me you didn't sleep all night because of this."
Ye Jinmeng's face instantly turned red. As embarrassing as it was, that was indeed the case.
In her dreams all night, she had seen delicious food flying away as she cried and chased after it, unable to taste a single bite...
Though Ye Jinmeng didn't respond, her sheepish expression told the couple everything they needed to know. Finding it endearingly cute but not wanting to embarrass her further, they began placing steamed buns on the small plate in front of her.
Ye Jinmeng didn't dare look up at the couple, lowering her head to nibble on the steamed buns.
She had to admit, the steamed buns suddenly tasted incredibly delicious!
At the paternity testing facility, they had blood samples taken directly and completed the registration process quickly. The results would be available in just three days, much faster than the police department's timeline.
"Ye Jinmeng, do you want to come over for lunch? Auntie will make something delicious for you," Song Jiaxi extended the invitation cheerfully after leaving the facility.
"Yes, yes!" Ye Jinmeng nodded eagerly.
"Let's go home then. We'll eat, and then I'll drop you back at school for class."
The mother and daughter held hands, skipping merrily toward the parking lot. Xiao Yongze followed behind, watching their backs with a momentary sense of disorientation.
This feeling... it seemed quite nice, didn't it?
Xiao Yongze paused, gazing up at the sky. In his world, had it been this long since the sky looked so blue?
He hoped Heaven would grant his and his wife's wish, allowing their family to be reunited!
Song Jiaxi's voice called out from afar, "Honey, what are you spacing out for? If you don't hurry, we'll leave you behind!"
A broad smile spread across Xiao Yongze's face as he quickened his pace, waving back: "Coming, coming!"
Jian Hongmei learned about Xiao Wenyao being taken away by the police from the morning news headlines.
Jian Hongmei felt the world spinning, immediately fainting at home.
It was Liu Lawyer who found her and revived her by pressing on her Renzhong point.
Liu Lawyer was now in a panic. With Xiao Wenyao in custody, if he implicated the lawyer, there would be no escape. That's why he came to the Xiao residence to consult Jian Hongmei.
"Madam, what should we do now?"
Jian Hongmei sat up shakily, still feeling the world was surreal. How could her husband be arrested so suddenly without warning?
"Liu Lawyer, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Liu Lawyer shook his head. "I don't know the details either. I only saw the news today.
I called Zhao Secretary to ask, and he said that yesterday, Sean from X International obtained 90% of the company's shares and came to inspect the company. Apparently, Sean is quite familiar with Mr. Xiao. After sending outsiders away, who knows what happened, but the police arrived..."
Jian Hongmei's eyes widened. "This has something to do with Sean? But I've never heard Wenyao mention knowing Sean before!"
"You're a lawyer, why don't you take responsibility for Xiao Wenyao's case?"
Liu Lawyer dared not do that now, he was barely escaping with his life, let alone daring to rush in and deliver his own head!
"I, I'm trying to come up with a solution for Mr. Xiao, why don't you go to X International yourself and ask Sean for help or plead for mercy?"
He said this while taking out his phone and opening the chat interface.
"This is a screenshot of the surveillance footage that Zhao Secretary sent me, it's Sean and his wife. Take a look so you can identify them later."
Jian Hongmei took the phone, but after just a glance, she was so shocked that her mind went blank, and the phone fell from her hands to the ground.
Liu Lawyer was concerned about his phone, but seeing Jian Hongmei's dazed expression, he couldn't help but ask with concern, "Madam, madam, what's wrong?"
